Crostini with Brie, Cranberry and Pistachios

One of the most popular appetizers served at the Membership Open House on Oct 20 was this delightful Crostini. Leslie Christiansen has shown her culinary talents before and we were thrilled to have her in this historic kitchen again for the event. Renee Donnelly and Bonnie Newhoff help out with the preparation. Note the Veggies on the counter, ready to be presented also.

The Historical League has written two books in the last few years. Tastes & Treasures A Storytelling Cookbook of Historic Arizona is filled with great

recipes like this one.

Our AZ Centennial book, Recollections and Reflections An Arizona Historymakers Centennial Commemoration is an official Legacy Project. Both books were available at the Open House.

CROSTINI WITH BRIE, CRANBERRY & PISTACHIOS

Ingredients:

8 oz brie, at room temperature

½ cup dried cranberries, chopped

½ cup pistachios, chopped

1 baguette French bread

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Method:

1. Preheat oven to broil. Move oven rack near the top.
2. Slice bread about 3/8-inch thick, about 24 slices. Place bread on a sheet pan and lightly drizzle with olive oil.
3. Lightly toast one side of the bread, about 3-4 minutes. Allow to cool.
4. Using a butter-knife spread a thin layer of the brie on the toasted side. Sprinkle with the chopped cranberries and pistachios.

Serves 12 as an appetizer

Lassoing young minds with Ourcourts.org

Great article on Sandra Day O'Connor in the Sunday, August 2, AZ Republic Viewpoints. Justice O'Connor has always championed education, wanting to "saddle up to help teach middle school kids about how their government works." Her life on the Lazy B Ranch gave her "lessons that inspired a lifetime of civic involvement and public service." Now she is working with Ourcourts.org to develop online lessons, games and history for teachers and students.

The Historical League has a summer project to do similar good works. Our volunteer staff is digitalizing the 55 Historymakers oral histories so they will be accessible on www.HistoricalLeague.org. This is part of the Legacy Project for the Arizona Historical Society to celebrate Arizona's Centennial. These oral histories are from Arizonans such as Erma Bombeck, Eddie Basha, Jerry Colangelo, Paul Fannin, Barry Goldwater, Esther Don Tang and Ed Mell. A complete list is on www.HistoricalLeague.org. The histories talk about their childhood, education, business and social and political life. You feel like you are sitting down talking with them over a cup of coffee . . . or glass of wine.

Love this photo of Sandra as a young girl on the ranch. Can you guess who is the other young man? . . . Barry Goldwater.